New Research Reveals Troubling Food Insecurity Trend in South Jersey

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the term Food Insecurity is defined as "the condition assessed (that defines) a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food."

New Jersey is one of the states with the highest increase in Food Insecurity since 2020. While the national growth of Food Insecurity is 22 percent, NJ is at a staggering 75 percent over the last six years.

With over 250 food banks around the United States, Feeding America is the country's largest domestic hunger-relief and food-bank network. They estimate over 13 percent of New Jersey residents cannot "not regularly count on three meals a day".

South Jersey Food Insecurity At Highest Levels in 21st Century

New data from the USDA Economic Research Service, and the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate have found that Food Insecurity is at the highest rates in Southern NJ has experienced since 2008.

In Cape May County, the Average Cost of Meal is $4.28, a high number compared to the state average of $3.74. The neighboring county of Cumberland has the second-highest Food Insecurity rate (17.5%) in the state.

In Atlantic County, 62 percent of residents are below the SNAP threshold, the second-highest of South Jersey's primary six counties. Gloucester County has the lowest Food Insecurity Rate in South Jersey (9.8 percent).

Here is a full breakdown of the latest Food Insecurity Data:

*Atlantic County - Food Insecurity Rate (14.8%); Residents are below the SNAP threshold (62%)
*Camden County: - Food Insecurity Rate (13.9%); Residents are below the SNAP threshold (54%)
*Cape May County: - Food Insecurity Rate (13.1%); Residents are below the SNAP threshold (47%)
*Cumberland County: - Food Insecurity Rate (17.5%); Residents are below the SNAP threshold (70%)
*Gloucester County: - Food Insecurity Rate (9.8%); Residents are below the SNAP threshold (45%)
*Salem County: - Food Insecurity Rate (13.9%); Residents are below the SNAP threshold (58%)